Chapter 6 - The great cycle and the placement of all things.
Moments later, at the Elder's house, the elves and Ed were having lunch while talking.
- Answering your previous question, [Life], or green card, is one of the many types of cards in the game. To explain better, I have to go deeper into the game's story and mechanics.
- Cards can be divided into 7 large categories. The first is [Terrain]. Land generates mana, which is what the gamer uses to play the other cards. Every card, except [Terrains], costs mana. Usually a land will generate one mana point, but some [Terrains] are special and can generate more mana per turn, or have other effects.
- After the [Terrain], the cards can be divided into six other types. Five of them form a cycle, and the last one stad aside the formers. The cycle is formed by [chaos], [magic (or energy)], [life], [light (or order)] and [death] (each player and other afficonados will interpret the names as they like, so some give alterantive names to them). According to the story this five elements will form a cycle of life and death, creation and destruction. It goes like this: '[chaos] generates [energy/magic]; [energy/magic] boosts the birth of [life]; [life] will organize itself into [light/order] to progress; however, every light has its counterpart and in the end comes [death]; which then returns everything to [chaos]'. And so the cycle starts again.
- And outside of this great cycle, there is one more type: [history], which are the relics and knowledge that each cycle leaves behind, and the next one will be build upon - explained Ed.
Although This account does not exist in Arkron, it did arouse great interest and enlightenment in the elves, who were lost for a moment, pondering these questions.
- If the theory that Arkron is like a beating heart, expanding and retracting, really has any validity, then this world is akin to a living being. Every living being is at the mercy of the cycle of life and death. From what you said, [life] and [magic] could be related to the expansion of Arkron; [death] and [chaos] to it's retraction; and [light] would be the moments of stability. - ruminated the Elder, lost in thought.
- It might be. Who knows? - Smiled Ed.
- And, when you were out there, what did you mean by life deck? - Asked Gih.
- Well, these 7 types represent groups of cards, which share some characteristic in common. Also, each of the five groups in the cycle uses a specific type of mana. In other words, it can be futher explained like this. - continued Ed.
- [Chaos] is represented by the color red, and include cards that express 'uncontrollability', 'destruction', 'extremes', 'desire', 'anarchy'. The [Terrain] that will generate mana for these cards are volcanoes, mountains, deserts, fire. The tactic used with this deck boils down to the saying "the best defense is a powerful offense". Basically, the idea is to deal as much damage to the opponent as possible, as fast as possible, and defeat them before they can do anything to the player. Examples of red cards are fireball, explosion, Goblins and Orcs, red dragons, etc.
- [Magic] is represented by the color blue, and they are cards that express mystery and depth. Its [Terrain] is the ocean, the seas, beaches and islands. The most romantic players says that [Magic] is like the depths of the ocean: mysterious and unpredictable. Usually players who like this deck use spells and creatures with unexpected abilities, which will disrupt your opponent's plans in every way. Exemples are cards that force the opponent to discard their hand, spend their mana pool and prevent them from taking any action, nullify the opponent's spells, etc.
- [Life] is represented by the color green, and it signify life and overwhelming life force. As you can imagine, it's [Terrain] has to do with forests, woods, and any region that has immense amounts of life force (the wilder the better). It's spells are geared toward restoring health, or influencing beasts and other creatures to grow. Combat tactics revolve around summoning as many creatures as possible and trampling the enemies, while recovering health through spells to stay in tip top condition.
- [Light] is represented by the color yellow, and is related to order, civilization, progress. It's [Terrain] are plains, farms, fields, as well as cities, strongholds, and castles. Deck composition is balanced between creatures, technology, and few enchantments and spells; there is usually some sort of resonance between the cards, like a soldier card will get a bonus from a commander card. The battle strategy is to, step by step, to build an army and guarantee bonuses between your assets, while defending, until you have the strength powerful enought to devastate the enemy.
- [Death] is represented by the color purple, and it means death and curse. It's [Terrains] are mangroves, swamps, graveyards and other poisonous and ominous places. The cards are related with despicable, disgusting, cruel and vile beings and magics. I very much dislike this deck, by the way. Undead creatures that come and go from combat. Spells that curse the opponent cards, causes death, loss of control, periodic damage, etc. are the main stay of this deck.
- Finally, [History]. has no specific [Terrain]; it works with any type of mana, unless it's some special ability that requires a specific type. The color is gray, and represents relics, fossils, and artifacts. They are not part of the current cycle of the world, but of a previous cycles. The usefulness of the card has to be analyzed case by case, to see if it fits the tactics that each one chooses.
Seeing Ed explain with ease these principles, brought a new impression of the boy to the elves sitting around the table. Perhaps, in time, he could become someone with a greater value than they can imagine. If he passes the trials that are set for the near future, he will achieve feats that others usually only hear about in stories and fairy tales.
- It will be a pity when we reach the edge of the forest and he leaves the village. - Thought the old woman. - His knowledge can open unimaginable doors for the elves. My time with this children is running out, maybe I won't even make it till the end of this new pilgrimage. To have someone like him, once forged in battle, would be excellent, and can only benefit the elves. Especially these two girls. - continued pondering the Elder, while watching the young people at the table, specially Gih and Luh.
- Ed - called Luh - From everything you said, we - the elves - are from the [life] deck, right? But we are not 'creatures', nor wild animals. I think we should be the [light] type, no? - She asked, as a confused look lingered in her eyes. She was still organizing her thoughts about everything she'd heard so far.
- Card placement is not completely consistent or rigid. Elves form civilizations and live in order, looking at it from this point you're right, they should be a yellow card. But the fact that they live in the forest, in many cases ally themselves with creatures to fight, use spells that involve life force, commune with plants, among other things, put the elves as green cards. Even your faith is related to the [Life] deck - The Way of the Trees.
- Despite this, as I said yesterday, there is no generic card for elves, but several diferent ones; and they each expose various facets of the elven race. Each of those facets, each of these cards, is then classified differently. Elven cards are spread across many different types of decks. I would say, in fact, that eighty percent of them are green; fifteen percent yellow; and the last five percent is split between red, blue and purple. - concluded Ed.
-Impossible! I don't think an elf can ever be classified as purple! - exhorted Gih, as he abruptly rose from her chair; clearly she was dissatisfied. Despite the fact that she knows Ed has no reason to lie, but seeing how true his card descriptions have been so far, she felt hurt as his words soiled the face of the elves; - It's unthinkable that any elf might be part of a group that represents curse and cruelty! You are hurting the elven race dignity, Ed! - She said between her teeth, clearly aggrieved.
At this moment the Elder warned the young elf. - Calm down Gih'a! - And, without waiting for a response she continued to say with a grave tone. - What Ed says is true. You are children who were raised here, isolated from the world; your knowledge boils down to the stories that my generation told you and the accounts of visitors, who happened to end up in the village from time to time. But in the world, there is a much less ideal place than you imagine. Thinking about Ed Terra's words, I imagine I know what he's talking about.
After a few moments of silence, while she made sure that all their attention was directed to her, the Elder started to recount an old tale she once heard as a child.